Shane Beamer confirms Josh Vann will miss Gator Bowl, Jalen Brooks doubtful to play

South Carolina‘s wide receiver position was already looking a little thin headed into their Gator Bowl matchup versus Notre Dame, and it may have gotten even thinner according to a recent update from head coach Shane Beamer. Beamer gave updates on wide receivers Josh Vann and Jalen Brooks as the Gamecocks are just a few days away from their bowl game.

“Vann is not here right now, he won’t play this week. Brooks, doubtful, still working through some things off the field,” Beamer said.

Vann is still recovering from a knee injury that he suffered early in the team’s regular-season finale versus Clemson, leaving the game after a 34-yard catch on a third down conversation when he suffered his injury.

Brooks is currently dealing with an off the field issue according to Beamer, and has been consistently practicing with the team despite not being listed in the two-deep of the Gamecocks’ depth chart.

Brooks and Vann were the teams No. 2 and No. 3 leading wide receivers to end the regular season and will be a big loss, especially considering they also lost their two top tight end targets in Jaheim Bell and Austin Stogner to the transfer portal.

Thankfully, South Carolina’s leading wide receiver Antwane Wells will be playing in the Gator Bowl and making a decision regarding the NFL afterward, as he and the Gamecocks’ younger wide receivers will have to take on a bulk of the team’s receiving responsibilities on Friday.

Shane Beamer provides additional details on Josh Vann injury

South Carolina pulled off a big upset win over Clemson this weekend defeating the Tigers 31-30 on the road, but not without losing wide receiver Josh Vann. Vann left the game in the first quarter after suffering a knee injury that looked rather gruesome as he made an impressive third-down catch. Head coach Shane Beamer provided an injury update on Vann following their game Saturday.

“He’s okay, he has a knee injury,” Beamer said. “Obviously looked pretty ugly, it’s not his ACL, so we’ll see.”

Vann may have left the game early, but not without making an impact, as he had two huge first-quarter catches for the Gamecocks for 56 yards, including the 34-yard catch on third down when he suffered his injury.

Vann is the Gamecocks’ third-leading receiver this season with 18 catches for 296 yards and ranks second on the team in touchdown receptions with three. He’s a big part of their passing game, and the status of the senior from Tucker, Georgia will certainly be worth monitoring as South Carolina has just their bowl game matchup left remaining.